interest rates

It appears the foreign exchange market is being driven by one overriding consideration and that is that the ECB is going to raise rates as early as next month. The debt crisis on the periphery has been ignored. Fitch cut the outlook for…

Mexico central bank kept rates steady at 4.5% today, as expected. However, it tilted a little more to the hawkish side and supports our view that tightening is likely to start in Q4 11 and not Q1 12 as market is pricing in. Central bank…

By Marc Chandler ECB President Trichet is signaling a rate hike and the market debate seems to be between April and May. While the monetary setting may be too easy for Germany, the peripheral countries, where the debt crisis has been…

By Marc Chandler Trichet has stayed true to form and issued relative hawkish signals. Two key points--"strong vigilance" is needed and no reiteration of the mantra that "interest rates are appropriate". He explicitly…

from the BBH Currency Strategy Team Highlights The US dollar is consolidating some it weekly losses versus some of the majors ahead of today’s ECB meeting and tomorrow’s jobs reports. The euro, however, maintains a firm tone as the…

By Win Thin Korea February inflation data came in much higher than expected, and supports our view that a rate hike on March 10 is a done deal. The central bank kept rates steady February 11 after a 4-2 vote in favor of a 25 bp rate hike…

By Win Thin Russia central bank First Deputy Chairman Ulyukayev confirmed that it has widened the so-called “floating corridor” for the ruble basket to 32.45-37.45 vs. 32.95-36.95.  The band is now 5 rubles wide, and continues a slow…

Here's a morning note from UBS' Andy Lees in London on core inflation that made me think. Andy writes: Opinion – By focussing on core inflation rather than headline inflation, central banks are making a major policy mistake. Because…

Highlights The US dollar remains under pressure as the divergent outlook in monetary policy across central banks continue to underpin currency movement. The euro extended its recent gains, just ahead of the yearly high near $1.386,…

By Win Thin Colombia surprised markets with a 25 bp hike to 3.25% late Friday, and marks the first hike of the tightening cycle as the central bank tries to get back ahead of the inflation curve. The deciding factor behind the hike was…